Critiques and replies are by their nature potentially volatile. Occasi
onally, readers and/or one or both authors involved in critiques and r
eplies end up feeling exploited, even if they are not actually exploit
ed. The purpose of Psychological Review's policy on critiques and repl
ies is fourfold: (a) to treat both authors fairly, (b) to establish co
ntingencies that maximize objective exchanges and minimize affective e
xchanges, (c) to have appear in the Review only as much as is truly va
luable to readers, and (d) to maximize the likelihood that all those i
nvolved feel as if they have been treated fairly by the Review.